Burn Home

2007-07-14T23:25:44Z

Hc3S9m:

= Introduction =
[[Burn Home]] is an alternative to Persistent Home

After each session the directory /home/knoppix/ is burned onto a CDRW
At boot up the directory is automatically restored from the CDRW
Multiple backups are encouraged, Multiple projects on disk sets are possible.
New versions of KNOPPIX will hopefully work with no instalation needed.
Adding programs to the second CD will make this a 2CD KNOPPIX version.

= Ususal Warnings =

This work is volunteer, experimental, untested, and should not be relied upon. 
Enjoy.

This work is experimental use and to inspire others. 
Each user must determine its usefulness and reliability. 

= Goals Envisioned =

Uses: Provide a very low cost, portable, secure computer environment.

Inexpensive computing with simple startup is suitable for many users. 
High security can be obtained by haveing data only in memory, and save to 
CDRW only in encripted form. No unencrypted data is ever on a storage media. 
A random password can be kept on an USB stick and stored seperately for added 
protection.

= Uses Described =

Students, library patron, low use public, high security, legacy preservation, robotics are good matches.

The advantage of this use of KNOPPIX is to provide a low cost, portable,
secure computer environment. Students, library patrons, high security,
demonstration and development projects, or public computer kiosk may
be a good match. KNOPPIX with burn_home may offer an interesting solution
to the legacy preservation in computing. It may also be excellent for
robotics since the energy use can be minimal with no hard drive and the
CD drive that only runs when needed.

A few CDRW disks and a floppy is all a student needs. Such a user may
lose or have stolen more expensive media.

Slow shutdown speed and limited installation of new software are among
many limitations.

= Design Philosophy =

The operating system, personal data, and computer are seperated from each other.

The computer, the operating system and data should be
kept independent of each other. This can increases secruity,
reliability, portability, and ease of use.

A new live CD up date version may be used giving an upgraded
operating system. Simply burn the new iso and put it in the
CD tray and boot. Unless there are major KNOPPIX
changes, the data from the RWCD will continue to work.

= Target Computer =

500 MB memory, floppy, DVD or CD, second CDRW -- no hard drive needed.

The envisioned target computer for [[Burn Home]] has

: * one floppy
: * CD drive
: * Second CDRW drive – may be on USB -- these scripts assume cdrom1 dev=1,0,0 (enter cdrecord –scanbus to find your dev=?,?,?)
: * 500 MB memory – less may work but may be limiting
: * sound
: * internet
: * printer

= Setup Instructions =

KNOPPIX is booted from CD, the KDE desktop customized and several files copied.

1. Start (boot from) the KNOPPIX CD

2. Make a boot floppy from the KNOPPIX CD
see [[Boot FloppyHowTo]]

3. Edit the file syslinux.cfg on the boot floppy.
After the first BOOT_IMAGE=knoppix add --> myconfig=/mnt/cdrom1
and any other cheat codes you wish --> lang=us
[[See Note]](3)

4. Click Home --> Desktop
Paste or copy the script file burn_home to this directory
Right click burn_home --> Properties --> Permissions -->
check all of the Exec boxes.
[[See Note]](4)

5. Adjust your KDE desktop features like background, clock font, icon size,
scanner, printer, and internet. Put in a new empty floppy and:
K --> KNOPPIX -->Configure --> Save Knoppix Configuration --> OK --> floppy
Now copy configs.tbz and knoppix.sh from the floppy to the
/home/knoppix directory.
[[See Note]](5)

6. Place a CDRW disk to be overwritten or a blank CDR disk, and click
on burn_home on the desktop. Click all of the OK boxes for the usual
operation with a CDRW. Wait for the message saying the burn was good.
Remove the CD.
[[See Note]](6)

7. Normal operation: Reboot with the boot floppy, the KNOPPIX CD in the
first CD tray, and the burn_home disk in the second CD tray.

8. Rotate through at least 3 or as many CDRW as you wish
so that you will always have backup copies to go back to.
At any time you may start a new set of disks.
Occasionally, I burn a CDR to keep as a permanent record,
when I have reached a point in programming that I want to
keep for reference.

= Scripts Update =

The script burn_home is all you need to save and automatically restore your files and settings.

Here are the latest scripts.

I tried to type the files into this Wiki. What a mess! 
The latest script burn-home will be with the FTP downloads at 
[http://grow-knoppix.berlios.de]

[http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2705 The original post]

If you have comments or question please do not post to that link. 
Post a new question under general toppics or to this Wiki.

= Adding Programs =

With special methods new programs can be added to the second CDRW.

You cannot, of course, add program files to the root directories
since these are on the KNOPPIX CD and are therefore read only.

But by adding to the path of the console, the path is extended to
the directory /ramdisk/home/knoppix/dist/bin
Some programs can be modified to install in this directory.

Kano has written excellent scripts to install some programs to
/ramdisk/home/knoppix/dist/bin on the live CD.
Try mplayer and realpalyer. Once installed and saved to CD
with burn_home the programs a available on boot up -- thus
essentially making a new 2 CD KNOPPIX version.
[http://kano.mipooh.net/ ]

There is also:

- [http://klik.berlios.de/ ]
- live-installer on KNOPPIX 3.4

= KNOPPIX Adoption =

Although this is a simple add on, integration into KNOPPIX would be welcomed.

If that is so, why didn't you contact the official sources? Debian-knoppix Mailinglist is for that. (FF)

= Bugs/[[Wish List]] =

General discussion of limits and new proposals.

Add your bugs here!

= Document Translation =

Help is welcomed on document development and translation.
A [http://www.illusivecreations.com/ Calgary Web Design] company that offers over 100 articles on [http://www.illusivecreations.com/ knoppix].
= Team Gratitude =

I thank all of the KNOPPIX community and all who have give specific support.

= [[Public Comment]] Guests, please use this Wiki page for comments and suggestions. =
------------------------------------
This is a work in progress. 
[http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2705 The initial information is posted on the KNOPPIX forum.]
I will keep adding improvements as they become available. 
I hope this will be of use to further the KNOPPIX phenomenon. 
Best wishes 
paradocs
* Please do ''not'' add subpages for project-specific pages. Use a syntax like: [[Burn Home |Burn Home/Bugs]] or similar if you really want to do that.

Back to [[Knoppix Projects]]

Knoppix Documentation Wiki - User contributions [en]

Burn Home